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>> welcome to "newsday" on the bbc. >> here are the headlines. what will the new u.s. military strategy mean for the world? 73 dead and another day of bombings targeting iraq's shi'a community. "we travel with the arab league monitors to escape their official minders. aung san suu kyi tells the bbc that she believes that burma will become a democracy in her lifetime. >> broadcasting to our viewers on pbs in america and around the world, this is "newsday.'

after a decade of war in iraq and afghanistan, the united states is embarking on the biggest change in military strategy in a generation. president obama has announced a far reaching and defense review announcing cuts of half a trillion dollars, thousands of job losses, and a shift in focus to the asia-pacific region. >> since the cold war, america has fought with overwhelming power backed by a vast budget spent in afghanistan and iraq, the u.s. fielded huge armies. military might protecting hard power across the globe. now they face their greatest challenge economically. >> three years ago -- and >> president obama says that huge government deficits are a chance to prioritize penn to

defense cuts of $450 billion and possibly as much as a trillion will hurt. -- president obama says that huge government deficits are a chance to prioritize. defense cuts of 450 billion will hurt. >> we will make our forces agile, flexible, and be prepared for a full range of contingencies and threats. >> the army and marines will bear the brunt of the cuts with large reductions in numbers. the rise of china means a shift in focus to the asia-pacific region. there will be continued investment in high-tech weapons like the drones' currently used in afghanistan. america's military future is being watched closely in places like annapolis, maryland. a place with a history of training recruits. we found most of the regulars were worried, a smaller territory -- military could mean

bigger risks. >> we could have more terrorist actions. >> we cannot do this. >> why not? >> because of what is china doing. china would like to conquer the world. >> i don't think we should be spending trillions of dollars on war. why do we have to be the world police? >> you welcome the cuts? >> absolutely. militaryrld's biggest spender announces considerable budget cuts, now and not just towns like this that take notice. there are also consequences for allies. what the lending for naida which relied on u.s. ships off the coast of libya. -- what does this mean for nato which relied on u.s. ships. >> not all members have an equal measure of enthusiasm to engage.

in theory, we have a very large number of deployable troops. it is about translating the theoretical into the actual front line capability. some could do more in that department. >> america's military remains the biggest and best funded on earth. war is like the one just ended in iraq become a thing of the past. >> and asian pacific security analyst says that the rise of beijing looms large for the usa. >> the challenge from china is something on like anything the u.s. has faced in the last 60 years. it is larger, more ubiquitous challenge than any other state, including one would argue, the soviet union. the u.s. does have significant

options. they will never be an insignificant player, even in china. >> as far as china is concerned, what are the challenges for that country due to this announcement? >> i think there is a significant message of caution or even deterrents for china. it will force china -- is certainly forces facing some ugly realities. they are determined to protect the global interests and that of their allies. for china, the messages that the u.s. is saying that china has thrown down the gauntlet in the western pacific and they do aspire to squeeze us out despite the fact that we have three or four core alliances with western pacific countries.

whatever else we do, we will contest any such ambitions on china's part. "what practical difference will it make on the ground? >> a force of the capacity will be inconsequential. the u.s. outspends china by an order of magnitude. when you do that over decades, the substance to acquire in your military capabilities cannot simply be replaced by elevating expenditures. >> thursday was another bloody day in iraq with 72 civilians killed in a series of bombings. the largest blast was in nasiriyah but baghdad also came

under attack. a sharp rise of sectarian violence take place -- takes place in a political crisis. >> the attacks struck shiite areas in iraq and baghdad -- in southern iraq and baghdad. cars and roadside bombs were used. the targets were all civilians. the deadliest explosions hit a group of pilgrims who were passing through a police checkpoint near the southern city of nasiriyah. although there was no immediate claim of responsibility, programs and the police had been secretly targeted by al qaeda in iraq, a sunni extremist group. a shiite neighborhood in baghdad came under attack. there has been a surge since the

violence -- since the departure of the u.s. troops. a wave of attacks struck different areas in baghdad killing and injuring dozens. although al qaeda in iraq say they carried out the attack, the parties have been exchanging accusations over who they say is to blame. >> we have obtained an exclusive report from inside of syria. >> before i bring you that report, the head of the syrian army has called on the arab league to a admit that the country has failed. the marchers arrived 11 days ago to try to enforce a peace accord. now one tv journalist has been given access to one team of

observers in the capital of damascus. >> in the outskirts of damascus, a crowd is growing. three observers in their bright orange vests make their way in. they have broken off from their scheduled program. this is the first time that has happened since they arrived 11 days ago. the pictures you're seeing were filmed by the bbc arabic who has been given of rare access. anti-government activists have accused the president and his government of misleading the arab league monitors by taking them only too pro-government areas. during the visit, the demonstrators and circled the diplomats, many of them giving their own eyewitness accounts of what they have seen. these women said that one of their brothers had died trying

to save the other from being taken hostage by security forces. this man said that his son had been shot by a sniper. he was leaving a mosque during the protest. suddenly, while the bbc was filming these pictures, a masked man drives up to distribute the placards and banners. it says, observers, please help us. the monitors may have seen them that during their visit this on the violence. this was the same place at a different time of day. pictures were felled by an anti- government work -- anti- government group. they show workers running in panic. this is what those opposed to the government would like the

air oblique to see it amid concerns they have failed in their mission. -- would like the arab league to see amid concerns they have failed in their mission. >> the prosecution in the trial of egypt's former president has called for the death sentence. mr. mubarak is accused of ordering the killing of demonstrators during last year's protest which forced him from power. what the prosecutors said that he was directly responsible for the death. gunmen in nigeria have killed at least six people in an attack on a church. the churches pastor says his wife was among the dead. this is the latest series of attacks targeting christians. six firefighters have died battling a blaze in the south of the country. the fire crew was engulfed by

flames driven by a sudden gust of wind. forest fires have ravaged lars areas of southern and central chile. -- large areas of southern and central chile. the world's car makers gather at the deli car show, can india's middle-class is afford to buy? >> this is so tall that the eiffel tower could fit underneath it. brazilian authorities are evacuating thousands of more people from their homes in the wake of heavy flooding. the worst hit areas have had a dike breached. >> this is the impact of weeks of heavy rains. this is one of the dams

protecting the residents is now suffering a gaping hole. despite the obvious dangers of the raging water, you can see the damage for self. thousands of people are being evacuated. they fear that the whole town will be submerged. i'm certain that by this evening, the water will cover the entire town. >> as they struggle to salvage, many doubt they will be coming back. the fresh misery sweeping across the many communities has prompted the central government to pledge more than $250 million worth of help. they're looking to further strengthen flood defenses. between these states, more than 70 municipalities have declared

emergencies. with much infrastructure badly damaged, officials know they face a race against time for those that need help as the rain continues to fall. >> in bolivia, officials have been battling to prevent landslides on steep populated hills as the rainy season begins. last year, a large landslide brought down part of the hill affecting thousands of residents and hundreds of acres of land. the authorities have monitored some homes and an effort to take some of the load. >> this is "newsday" on the bbc. >> these are the headlines. president obama has unveiled a new strategy focused on the asia-pacific region. despite a large budget cuts, the u.s. will maintain its superiority. >> a series of bomb attacks

targeting shia muslims has killed at least 70 people. sectarian violence and tensions have increased in recent weeks. a chinese artist says that the authorities in beijing have agreed on their ruling that he pay a million dollar fine. he was ordered to pay more than $2 million in back taxes and fines. he says the review should be complete within two months. one of the biggest car shows is happening in india at the moment. the aim is to impress potential buyers and one of the world's largest car markets. >> at the auto show, the slowdown is dominating the mood but it is still very festive.

15 to launch is expected and 100,000 visitors every day. everyone would like to sell to the indian consumer. small cars account for over 80% of the indian market. this is the segment that is most sensitive to price changes. many here are worried that the industry will see more bad news this year. >> this was a very tough year for us because of the slowdown in the markets, also because of the customers. they're changing. every indian customers hesitated to buy the new car.

maybe the second half will revive some of the economic growth. >> not everyone is affected by the slump in demand. luxury-car makers plan to increase their product line. >> i think that it was not affected. albee has had it 84% increase. -- audi has had a 84% increase. people are worried about the interest rates and a growing fuel. india is still one of the fastest-growing markets in the world. in spite of the slowdown, the car specter is expected to drive the profits for many.

>> you have more on an engineering marvel in latin america. >> it is in mexico where the president was has -- has inaugurated what is officially the tallest bridge in the whole world. this crosses some of mexico's most rugged terrain. a bird's eye view of the world's tallest bridge stretching more than 1,000 meters long and over 400 meters high. this stands a deep ravine in the mountains this is so tall that the eiffel tower could fit under its central span. the bridge is part of a new highway and marks the elaborate bicentennial celebration from independents -- celebration of

independence from spain. >> this is definitely one of the most impressive projects. this is a piece of terrain go. a project that will unite the people in the north of mexico like never before. >> nearly four years in the making, it cost hundreds of millions of dollars but government officials believe it is money well spent. this is a safer and more direct route. many will try out this record- breaking bridge for themselves. >> the british foreign secretary has said he believes the civilian led government of burma is sincere about reform. he was speaking during a visit to the country. this is the first by a british foreign secretary for more than 50 years.

there is supposed to be a meeting between the foreign secretary and aung san suu kyi. land and what will they talk about? >> it is underway now in the house behind me. i am talking to you from aung san suu kyi's garden. once they have had their private meeting, there will be an extended meeting which includes senior members of the national league for democracy, aung san suu kyi's party, which only yesterday was given the green light to contest future elections. this is now a legal entity again. the new party's flags are flying in the garden. this was once a prison for aung san suu kyi. this is a place where press conferences are held and this is

being transformed slowly. it is being transformed. now, it is being reformed. >> what are the main issues that are stopping this country from having a fully fledged relations with the rest of the world? >> there are still deep concerns from the outside world. yes, there have been many positive signs, signs that william hague has described as encouraging. they believe that there are some figures, including the president, who are sincere about the reform process. it is well known that there are others within the establishment, within the military, that are very wary about what is happening. to the outside world, things moving slowly. inside, they are worried about where all of this may lead. that is one of two questions,

where is this process going? is this limited in scope and ambition or is is moving towards freedom and democracy? what can the outside world and do to support and encourage that? there are still sanctions in place. another question, when might the time the right to begin lifting those sanctions? when will those rewards be offered to the reformers and the government? >> specifically between britain and burma, what did the two countries want from each other? >> this is a renewal of relations. there is a long history between the countries because britain was the former colonial power. for decades, there has been no direct indications between britain and the government. britain is the largest bilateral aid donor to burma. there has always been support

from britain to its former colony of burma. there are tricky things that need to be overcome. britain still refers to this country as burma. the new government refers to it as the republic of me in mar. there are little things that could be done. -- the new government refers to it as the republic of myanmar. >> of we have been to look at something very special. the titanic cruise liner sunk almost a hundred years ago and now some of the objects retreat from the record going to auction. >> the titanic at the bottom of the atlantic ocean. -- now some of the object retrieved from the rack are going to auction. the biggest liner ever seen is now resting away.

items retrieved from the wreck will be sold. a moment in time from the gilded age when the titanic's fittings for the last word in fashion. the owner was a machinist immigrating from britain to america. >> he had suits, he had a rather exciting time -- exciting tie. we are trying to find out more about the people who is a fact we have in this collection -- whose effects we have in this collection. >> this must be sold in one lot to a buyer who gives the public access to the collection. recovering the collection has meant fighting to end a half

miles beneath the ocean's surface. >> this is always a time capsule. suddenly, the time stopped and you see the ship frozen in 1 second. it is easy to imagine that the people are still there. >> the collection has been valued at $189 million. potential buyers are museums or philanthropist. the ship itself is slowly disintegrating on the ocean floor. 100 years on, the story continues to fascinate. >> thank you for watching "newsday."

>> make sense of international news. bbc.com/news. >> funding for this presentation is made possible by -- the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu newman's own foundation and union bank. >> you are no longer in the service. only an outsider can find the double agent. >> i'll do my utmost. >> from the bestseller by john le carre -- >> all i want from you is one code name. >> it will take a master spy -- >> you are alone. >> you can't mention me. >> to catch a spy. >> you have to assume they're watching you. >> what the hell are you doing up here? >> things aren't always what they seem.

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